Is the coronavirus pandemic affecting our mental health?

Question

Bellatris · Accepted Answer

We need to get one thing straight. It isn't the "coronavirus epidemic" that is causing the damage to people's mental health, but the measures that were introduced by governments across the globe in order to (allegedly) deal with the epidemic. Locking people in their homes and calling them (appropriately, in my view, since the term originated in the prison system) 'lockdowns', forcing small businesses to close (but strangely enough, not large ones), forbidding travel for all except politicians and celebrities, hyping the lethality of the virus, and introducing a virtual police state (in my state anyway, Victoria), are some of the things we should blame for the astronomical increase in suicides.
When all of this is over (assuming of course it ever will be), you can bet everything you have they will have a handy replacement scare-story with which to frighten people senseless. It might be 'global warming' again, perhaps a meteor will be spotted heading for Earth, or maybe it will be a fake 'alien invasion' of some kind. My own guess is that it will be the discovery that we are all just living in a 'simulation' of some sort, and that will throw everyone into a permanent existential crisis. Regardless of what the story will be, you can be sure it will be - once again - complete bullshit.

surbhiiiiii · Accepted Answer

To a great extent for some people but I always liked staying at home so yeah I am kinda used to not stepping out

Massageman · Accepted Answer

Yes, and in several ways.

There is the "rule of threes" in healthcare, which, while not a RULE in the traditional sense, it IS a decent working guideline.
3 minutes without oxygen
3 days without water
3 weeks without food
3 months without touch

Well, we are long past those three months. We know of several people who have died (from a variety of reasons, not just COVID) but were quarantined and could see NO ONE. It's sad to think of someone dying with NO ONE- not even a SPOUSE- to be there for them.

We have an elderly lady friend of ours whose "love language" is physical touch: she's a hugger! Well, she is at wit's end hardly being able to even touch someone, yet alone HUG them for over a year!

My wife is a counselor. She was going to retire this year. Not happening! She's having more new couples as clients recently, most of whom who have money problems, and singles who have employment problems. Regardless, it takes a heavy mental tol on everyone.

OfDeath · Accepted Answer

I don't see how it couldn't be. It has been evident since the panic buying.

jennifer_bloom · Answer

My mental health has improved in the past year or so but it’s because I’ve worked hard to improve it by meditating on the bible and training myself in areas I thought I was flawed in and allowing myself to experience past trauma so that it can be brought to the surface and healed. I also read over 52 books on positive psychology and watched videos and engaged in religious activity as well as participating in group activities through zoom and working on my book projects so that I can be a professional author and engaging in brain training exercises to boost my intelligence as well as doing brain resting relaxation exercises and collecting quotes.

Oigit · Answer

For me it has not. Mostly because 2019 was a insane year in itself and I spent a lot of 2020 fixing the damage 2010 did. So the pandemic has more or less only added more weight to my back when I was already fighting upstream. Also a crisis isn't anything new in my life. So I learned how to cope with one many years ago and work through one as well.

Lastly one of the best things people can do is keep their distance mentally from the coverage of it. You don't need to be reading every article that comes out about it. Or watching new coverage of it a large chunk of your time. Talking a lot about it with others can create issues as well. Because it can quickly start becoming one of the few things, if not only the one thing you are thinking.

TheSpaceGnome · Answer

I would say for a lot of people, yes, significantly.

It's actually improved mine though, not just because of the stimulis checks, but also because people are now acting more like me.

Better hygeine, social distancing to avoid infection, playing online video games at home instead of going out to socialize, etc.

Only thing negative on my end is stock of products dissapearing too fast because people are stupid.

Thats not to say the outbreak isn't negative, it definitely is, I was just lucky enough to not have lost anyone I know, and not have my income impacted.

GunnzzNRoses · Answer

Yes. Isolation, and what comes with it (loneliness and boredom), are the worst thing for the human mind. Even in public, seeing people in masks fosters a feeling of isolation, like you're trapped in your own sphere. So yes, it is, and I think when this is all said and done this pandemic will be the catalyst to the birth of a very hedonistic and wild 2020s, a new roaring 20s if you will, to offset the awful time had in quarantine.

kyleelyn199723 · Answer

I guess it depends on who you are. Personally I wouldn’t let something like this affect my mental health. When we were in lock down I found ways to be productive and keep my mind afloat. You are the only person that affects how your personal mind works

Dragonpurple · Answer

It has for a lot of people, there have actually been a large amount of suicides over the last year due to lock down and many indirect coronavirus related deaths. That is all mental health related.

As for me, my mental health got far better... not having to drive into work each day did me wonders.

Now that they are talking about having us go back in, my mental health is going down.

hellacray · Answer

Nope.

What is affecting it is the stupid protestors and the housing market going ape shit.

Wearing a mask for me is no big deal. It's like wearing glasses on putting on shoes.

And social distancing to me is no big deal. In fact I like the idea of less people crowding around.

genericname85 · Answer

it absolutely is. and i am going to claim, that the forced social changes and coercion through political regulation aimed at reducing the impact of the virus on the population have actually directly and indirectly harmed and even killed WAY more people than the virus itself.

Inexpensivefurniture · Answer

Oh absolutely. I believe we are going to be seeing studies on this for years to come, but I've already been seeing articles about increased anxiety and depression, as well as more medication to manage those mental health issues being prescribed.

spuitkaas · Answer

A little bit. It has become better, but I still lack motivation and feel tired all the time. I also eat way worse than I used to and I think it's related to mental health. I'm not depressed or anything, but feeling a bit meh.

Katebfun · Answer

The thing people seem to forget is that we are all interconnected so if one is suffering we are all suffering. But it's complex and we are in our own hell in some way or another just in different ways some are better off than others.

ODC2112 · Answer

Lockdown situations have no effect on my mental health.
This situation affects only and only certain types of people. They are unable to manage their own problems and therefore throw them up on others. Failing this, they have to manage their problems on their own. These people had huge problems previously that they didn't want to solve and annoyed others.

NightHawk99 · Answer

Staying inside for most of a year does have an effect. I know this because I have been homeschooled for 3-4 years. The fact that I graduated is cool n all but I feel a lot of opportunities were missed because I was no longer in public brick-&-motar school.

Ryfyle · Answer

Watched a family pick up there dead husky puppy off the road after it got hit with a Ford Raptor. Felt fucking nothing and offered the parents a contractor bag and a Shovel. I feel nothing most of the time and when I do feel anything I just feel hatred. I just want to feel something other than contempt and loathing. If someone does kill me, Hope they feel good about it.

Havill4nd · Answer

Yep. I wasn't the most mentally healthy person to begin with. I'm not totally sure why. I could be that I don't have any self worth. Or that I have issues relating to people. Or that I've stopped trying to be happy.

But being alone with all of that makes it worse.

If you didn't have a whole lots of good in your mind going in its tough to find any.

at least that's how it is for me.

TheorionMage · Answer

Definitely, I have NEVER seen as many incidents of 'mass casualty' lone gunman shootings, and murder / suicides / suicide-by-cop as are occurring with the mentally-unbalanced since Spring of 2020. ~ :(

A_Nihilist · Answer

I certainly think a lot of people milk the hell out of it for attention. Which in turn makes it less credible and or believable that those who genuinely are having issues with it are not doing the same. But I do believe that it has drawn out a lot of depression and loneliness in extroverts or busy bodies.

Lionman95 · Answer

Yes it probably does, I feel like people get way more egoistic the longer it gets and there seem to be not many people around who are optimistic or could be seen as such by looking on their behavior.

Jjpayne · Answer

I think it very well could be... I think it's making us more depressed and antisocial

bagarBilla · Answer

Damn it is

Itamy 27th day since infected.
Not just mental more of physical.

I am weak, i feel Dumb and numb, lost concentration,. I really dont know what I want anymore its stupid.
I am an It guy and have Business, but looks like I dont know it anymore.:(

I dont know what they fuck this covid injected and upto what extent and which organ.
No doctor know it at all

souravkumar60 · Answer

The sure fact is yes. People have been in their rooms locked for almost a year. Being not able to do anything and just finding a way to kill their time has affected everyone’s mind.

Kayla45 · Answer

In a way yes. It's mentally draining me on where I can go and it's causing me a lot of paranoia.

slatyb · Answer

Absolutely. It's been torture for people trapped indoors in a bad relationship, and for many people living alone.

LeeannaDD · Answer

It's been documented that suicide rates went up. I'd imagine domestic violence rose as well

Kaneki05 · Answer

Not to mine. Only really extroverts care about that stuff. Me a introvert be like make it last forever good life right now.

boggboss · Answer

No the only aspect that changed really is how much me and my girl saw eachother but I'm good at adjusting

exitseven · Answer

Yes. Even I was affected. My doctor said it was caused by the isolation and there has been a lot of people with depression caused by the pandemic.

lovedejj_xo · Answer

I've gotten a lot more work since covid so yes. Lots of anxiety, depression, career changes, divorce, grief, list goes on

hela1110 · Answer

Yes I become more nervous, suspecting everyone around me... Plus the mask really drives me mad when the weather is hot

Aurora1010 · Answer

It was and kind of is, but I got kind of used to it.

jerdanro · Answer

I'm an extrovert and my love language is touch. I've been single since September, so it's just my and the damn cat, except when I see the kids every other weekend.

I'd forgotten how shitty it feels to be lonely.

Jaylaaa2000 · Answer

Some people adapted fine, some didn't.  Some already had mental illness and it just made it worse

Leavesbound · Answer

Probably thought I think it has revealed mental illness that already existed as well.

EyesOfGod · Answer

In 2019 there was 142 unruly passengers on airplanes From February to now there has been over 1400 unruly passengers. The facts speak for themselves.

WhiteWolf69 · Answer

No it isn't and hasn't. I've continued to focus on my life and personal growth. I'm continuing to move forward in my life instead of getting stuck in fear or whatever other mentality that would bring me down.

AlysonM · Answer

The government messes with our mental health on a daily basis... So, the corona is an addition.

Sevenpointfive · Answer

who cares? i'll sue anyone who doesn't agree with me

rievious · Answer

Yes have you looked up suicide rates in 2020. It spiked. I don't remember the number but there was a noticeable amount.

Aakash_Hangargi · Answer

Maybe for those who became orphans, or people who lost their kids a wife loosing husband and boy loosing her boyfriend

BarisOzcan · Answer

exactly, it was not affecting so much before but it's been a year and it's still going on though the summer is coming. Lockdown has been applying for how many weeks over here and tbh now the shit hits the fan.

MiriamDoremi · Answer

Well it is affecting mine. Covid 19 does affect mental health.

helva · Answer

Only a bit now, but in march - April last year I was very anxious and a bit depressed.

Not_Average · Answer

Of course. Look at the increase in mental illness, suicide, and divorce.

msbrightness · Answer

Most definitely Just look at Arab chaos and rocketeering of Israel - pure blind panic

GoodGuyBreakingBad · Answer

Yes, many people see more increase with mental health issues since the Coronavirus

Minahh · Answer

It surely is. Many people have reported a decline in their well-being.

madgoat · Answer

Maybe. More likely the endless Draconian laws and lockdown are.

JackofSpades · Answer

Not the virus itself but almost a month of little more than anime, videogames and day drinking certainly did.

clampfan101 · Answer

Not directly. There’s just tons of people acting stupid about it basically because they can’t control their feelings during any kind of crisis.

Wiredone · Answer

I'm sure it has affected everyone in the world to some extent. I mean alcohol sales have increased, what's that tell you

joeldalton · Answer

The pandemic isn't affecting our mental health, the government reaction to it has. It will take years if not decades to repair the damage to society.

TheBigGuy9 · Answer

To some, yes. That’s the whole point. To put fear into people. That way it allows Democrats to pass Draconian laws.

Better_off_here · Answer

yes i am more depressed and more nervous about everything. i feel that i was not able to function the way i want to. it forced everyone to be home and away from others.

Rohaan2020 · Answer

Well ofcourse it is... many have been going through depression... and a lot of people have been scared than usual... it has even led to a number of suicides..

AkshiJanjua · Answer

I think a lot of people are dying because of psychological fear which weakens immune system. The death rate this time in India is much higher than before

es20490446e · Answer

Lets say I had to adjust to it. Nothing horrible though.

Redstang88 · Answer

The “pandemic” isn’t, the lockdowns sure as fuck are

IndieScent · Answer

Absolutely, I want so badly just to be able to get out and see people again

KatherineJ · Answer

With some of the things I’ve seen as people emerge from their homes? I would say so.

mrkdvsn · Answer

Very possible for some people, And also a possibility for those who have taken the so-called "vaccine"

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